I Removed Running Board Bracket Rivets...

[ericr]

....and lived to tell. Imagine my chagrin after leveling the body and installing the fenders/running board shields, that one bracket was oddly misshapen, and incapable of being bent with a pipe due to the shield being in place.
I ordered an Ingersoll-Rand medium-duty air hammer with bits. One bit is apparently meant to shear rivets off. It will indeed cut them, though I had to sharpen it constantly for best results. The rivet will wad up as you sever it and I had to work on them from different directions, sometimes with a hand chisel too. After the head falls off, there is really very little holding the rivet in place and the tool comes with an awl-like bit that pecks the rivet out.
Oh yeah, the tool on a frame is louder than a metal rock concert and I had to buy ear protection. And I suppose a heavier-duty air hammer does it quicker.
Not a walk in the woods but less overwhelming than I feared----awful nice to hear the bracket clang on the floor when it falls off.

[wrndln]

It is much easier to drill them out. I have done that to several frames. First I drill a hole about 2/3 through the rivet (center it pretty accurately). Next drill a second hole with a larger bit using the small hole as a guide. Lastly, use a drill bit just slightly smaller than the rivet and drill the rivet the third time. You can then knock the rivets out easily with a punch.
Rusty Nelson

[ericr]

Originally Posted by wrndln

It is much easier to drill them out. I have done that to several frames. First I drill a hole about 2/3 through the rivet (center it pretty accurately). Next drill a second hole with a large bit using the small hole as a guide. Lastly, use a drill bit just slightly smaller than the rivet and drill the rivet the third time. You can then knock the rivets out easily with a punch.
Rusty Nelson

maybe I am using cheap drill bits but I tried that and the bits quit effectively cutting very quickly. And yes I was using oil on them and a variable speed drill. I was working from the inside of the frame rail. But I prefer your method if one were working from the bracket side with the running board shield off.

[tbirdtbird]

other useful tools for this are (you have air) die grinder and cut-off wheel, which can be used as a type of grinder. These are my 2 fav air tools!

[ctlikon0712]

It could be the drill quality, however most of the time if you are dulling the bit then the feed/speed is too fast. Slow it down more. On most old steel rivets a 30 to 70 RPM works best depending on the drill bit diameter.
http://vikingdrill.com/Feed_Speed_Face.html

Diameter of Drill - Inches
Feed Inches per Revolution
Under 1/8 .001 to .003
1/8 to 1/4 .002 to .006
1/4 to 1/2 .004 to .010
1/2 to 1 inch .007 to .015
1 inch and over .015 to .025

Recommended feeds of various diameter drills

NOTE: It is best to start with a moderate speed and feed, increasing either one, or both, after observing the action and condition of the drill.

Material Recommended speed (sfm)

Aluminum and its Alloys 200-300
Brass and Bronze (ordinary) 150-300
Bronze (High Tensile) 70-150
Die Casting (Zinc Base) 300-400
Iron - Cast (soft) 75-125
-Cast (medium hard) 50-100
-Hard Chilled 10-20
-Malleable 80-90

Magnesium and its Alloys 250-400
Monel Metal or High-Nickel Steel 30-50
Plastics or Similar Materials 100-300
Steel
Mild .2 carbon to .3 carbon 80-110
Steel .4 carbon to .5 carbon 70-80
Tool 1.2 carbon 50-60
Forgings 40-50
Alloy - 300 to 400 Brinell 20-30

Recommended speeds for standard materials with H.S.S. drills

[Roadster62]

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A drill is the tool to use in my opinion. Bob

[wrndln]

I've seen some serious damage done with a cutoff wheel. Unless you are very careful, it can mess up the frame or runningboard bracket or what ever you are trying to cut with it. Cutoff tools are good for some jobs, but in my opinion, removing rivets isn't on of them. One word - drill.
Rusty Nelson

[Mitch//pa]

you got them off cleanly thats all that matters. when i am doing riveted ball joints i get the rivet head red hot then burp it with the air chisel and the head shears right off. no hearing loss that way

[ericr]

some guy has a video on YouTube showing some state-of-the-art tool which looks like a mini-cutting torch that he can melt only the head with, but that looks above my budget and ability.